CLERMONT, FL – The Alfred University softball team split a pair of games during day three of its training trip to Florida, falling to North Park University and defeating Juniata College on Tuesday afternoon.

The Saxons (3-3, 0-0 Empire 8) had a late comeback fall just short in an 8-6 loss to the Spartans (5-3, 0-0 CCIW) and then picked up a 10-6 win over the Eagles (4-4, 0-0 Landmark).


Game One
Alfred University – 6 | North Park University – 8

North Park scored first in the top of the second inning and then again in the next inning to put up a 2-0 lead. The Saxons responded with three unearned runs in the bottom of the third has Taylor Carlson (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach) drove a shot that went through the glove and legs of the Spartan third base player, bringing home Bella Mistretta (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield Secondary) and Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph), while Ally Boulger (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) rounded third and was abled to slide, dodge and reach home safely on a bad throw from the left fielder to the catcher who's efforts to tag her out fell short. All three runs were unearned as the Saxons took the 3-2 lead.

The Spartans regained the lead and added some distance in the top of the fifth with four runs, making it a 6-3 lead for them. They tacked on another two runs in the top of the seventh for an 8-3 lead, leaving the Saxons with a five-run deficit.

In the bottom of the inning, Boulger smashed her third home run of the season, sending it well over the left field fence to bring home Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) and Steward, making it a two-run deficit, to which the Saxons' comeback was thwarted.

Both Steward and Boulger registered two hits each and two runs while Boulger had three RBI and Carlson had two. Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) had two stolen bases and Mistretta had one.


Game Two
Juniata College – 6 | Alfred University – 10

The Saxons never gave up their lead throughout the seven compete innings of play. Boulger was the first to cross home plate on a single to left field from Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA/Woodbridge) in the top of the second inning. The Saxons opened the flood gates with five runs in the top of the third inning, starting with an RBI single to center field from Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) to bring home Mistretta. Jovie Riley (Bakersfield, CA/Stockdale) singled to right field to send Steward home right after, making it a 3-0 lead for AU. Caroline Courson (Erie, CO/Erie) singled to center field for two RBI as both Boulger and Wark crossed home plate. Vidal sent Riley home on a single to the second base player who held Courson at third and kept Vidal on first, making it a 6-0 Saxon lead, a lead that Juniata could only tie in the remaining four and a half innings of play.

The Eagles put three runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning to cut the lead in half.

Courson drove in the game-winning run as she reached first on an error by the second base player, giving enough time to Riley to score, making it 7-3 in the top of the fifth inning. Juniata posted three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn't tie the Saxons as they led, 7-6.

Whitmyer drove in two insurance runs with a double to left center, sending Martinez and Vidal home for the 9-6 lead. Steward followed suit with a double to left center of her own, bringing Whitmyer home for the 10^th run of the game for AU.

Steward picked up the win inside of the circle with one strikeout while Loretta Sorochty (Batavia, NY/Notre Dame Batavia) picked up her first save of her collegiate career.

The AU batters totaled four doubles with Mistretta, Whitmyer, Steward and Wark. Both Vidal and Riley recorded stolen bases. Wark and Martinez each had three hits in the final game of Tuesday while Wark tacked on three. Courson had three RBI while Whitmyer had two.

The Saxons will next take Wednesday off before returning to action on Thursday, March 12 for a 10:00am game against Carthage College and a 2:45pm game against Lake Forest College.